Friday, August 25, 2000
The University Daily Kansan
Section B · Page 7
Martinez has poor start; Red Sox still beat Royals
The Associated Press
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Rico Brogna singled home the go-ahead run in the 10th inning as the Boston Red Sox survived a rare, shaky start by Pedro Martinez to beat the Kansas City Royals 9-7 last night.
Martinez allowed five runs and six hits in the first inning, his worst opening inning since 1995.
But after Mike Sweeney's home run made it 6-1
with two outs in the second, Boston's reigning Cy Young winner retired 18 of the next 19 batters, allowing only a single in the fourth to Rey Sanchez, who was erased on a double play.
Andy Larkin (0-3) walked Manny Alexander with one out in the 10th. Alexander stole second and with two outs, Trot Nixon was intentionally walked. Brogna followed with an RBI single, Carl Everett had a run-scoring double and Lou Merloni had an RBI infield single.
Impoto Pichardo (5-2), a former Royal, was booed when he relieved Martinez starting the ninth. Derek Lowe allowed an RBI single to Sweeney in the 10th before getting his 30th save.
Boston moved a half-game ahead of Cleveland in the AL wild-card race and stayed three games behind the Yankees in the AL East. Kansas City lost its fifth straight game.
The Royals had four singles and two doubles while scoring five runs against Martinez in the improbable opening frame.
The five earned runs in the first inning were more than anyone had managed against Martinez in an entire game this year. The six hits were just one short of his high in a game all season.
In 22 previous starts this season Martinez had allowed only four runs in the first inning. He had not given up five runs in a first inning since June 20, 1995, when he was with Montreal and allowed five to Houston.
Martinez gave up a season-high eight hits and six runs in eight innings, with six strikeouts. The six earned runs were the most he had allowed since giving up seven to Florida on July 19, 1999. His major league-leading ERA rose from 1.53 to 1.77.
Down 5-0 after one, the Red Sox needed only three innings to catch up against Mac Suzuki and reliever Jerry Spradlin. Suzuki lasted three-plus innings and gave up five runs and five hits and seven walks. Four of the walks scored.
Johnny Damon and Rey Sanchez singled to open the game for the Royals. Jermaine Dye and Joe Randa hit RBI singles with one out, and the crowd got into it when Mark Quinn's double made it 3-0.
After Todd Dunwoody struck out, Gregg Zaun hit a two-run double to give the Royals a 5 lead.
Jason Varitek walked with one out in the second and scored on Manny Alexander's double.
In the third, Brian Daubach had a two-run homer and another run scored on Lou Merioni's double-play grounder. Jose Offerman had an RBI single and Carl Everett added a run-scoring groundout in the fourth.
Notes: Toronto scored five runs against Martinez on June 25, but only four were earned. ... Shortstop Nomar Garciaparra was held out of Boston's lineup a second straight day with a sore left hamstring. He was available for pinch-hitting. ... Suzuki's ERA went from 3.78 to 4.00. In their last three games, the Royals have squandered leads of 5-2, 8-2 and 6-1.
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